Are Massachusetts Lawmakers in Bed with Big Ag? Why They Refuse to Help Small Cranberry Farmers
The Massachusetts cranberry industry is under serious threat due to political corruption—and small family-owned bogs are disappearing at an alarming rate
Massachusetts takes great pride in its historic cranberry industry. Or does it? After all, the state is the birthplace of commercial cranberry farming and still produces some of the world’s finest cranberries. But, beneath the picturesque bogs and the glossy tourism campaigns, there’s a crisis happening that state lawmakers refuse to acknowledge—small, family-owned cranberry farms are disappearing at an alarming rate. Why? Because Massachusetts politicians have done absolutely nothing to help struggling small cranberry farmers, choosing instead to ignore their pleas for assistance while major agribusiness corporations consolidate the industry.
Are Massachusetts Lawmakers in Bed with Big Ag? Why They Refuse to Help Small Cranberry Farmers
This isn’t just negligence—it’s systematic abandonment, and it raises the question: Are Massachusetts lawmakers in bed with Big Ag? That’s why the Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation is stepping in to protect this essential part of New England’s culinary history. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping small farmers keep their cranberry bogs alive, ensuring that future generations can enjoy real Massachusetts cranberries in their holiday meals and beyond.
Small Farmers Are Dying While Big Agriculture Thrives
Across the state, small, family-owned cranberry farms are shutting down, unable to compete with large corporate growers who have deep pockets, government subsidies, and political influence. Here’s what small farmers are up against:
Skyrocketing Costs – Maintaining a cranberry bog is more expensive than ever, with rising land taxes, equipment costs, and environmental regulations that disproportionately impact small farmers while Big Ag can afford to adapt.
Lack of Government Grants or Support – Other agricultural industries, such as dairy and grain, receive state and federal funding, but Massachusetts lawmakers refuse to create any meaningful relief programs for cranberry farmers.
Corporate Takeovers – With no financial help, many small farmers are left with two choices: go bankrupt or sell out to large agricultural corporations that are swallowing up farmland. This only sweetens the deal for corruption. Guess what side they are really on.
Big Ag’s Influence on Policy – Instead of enacting policies that protect local cranberry growers, lawmakers cater to massive agricultural companies that prioritize profits over preserving Massachusetts’ cranberry heritage.
While Big Ag expands its control, small farmers are being left behind, abandoned by a state government that should be fighting for them.
Massachusetts Politicians: Corrupt or Just Incompetent?
It’s no secret that Massachusetts lawmakers have been dragging their feet when it comes to helping small farms, but the question is: Why? There are two possible explanations—either they’re just corrupt, they’re completely incompetent, or they’re just an unfortunate mix of both.
1. Big Ag Lobbyists Are Pulling the Strings
Large-scale agricultural corporations have a vested interest in seeing small farms disappear. The fewer independent cranberry farmers there are, the easier it is for Big Ag to monopolize the industry, dictate pricing, and control supply.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Massachusetts lawmakers are being influenced by corporate lobbyists who want to ensure that all the state's cranberry production eventually ends up in the hands of a few massive companies.
2. Bureaucratic Apathy and “Too Little, Too Late” Policies
Even if corruption isn’t at play, Massachusetts’ complete lack of urgency in protecting cranberry farmers is inexcusable.
Legislators could easily introduce:
Tax incentives for small cranberry farms to help with costs.
State-funded grants to support small farmers during difficult seasons. They don’t, so we provide direct grants to small growers.
Land conservation programs that prioritize keeping cranberry bogs in agricultural production instead of being sold to developers. They don’t, so we provide volunteers.
But instead of taking action, they do nothing—offering only vague promises, empty meetings, and temporary band-aid solutions that do absolutely nothing to keep small cranberry farms in business.
How the Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation Is Stepping Up
Since the government refuses to step in, the Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation is taking matters into its own hands.
The nonprofit is filling the gap that Massachusetts lawmakers refuse to address by offering direct financial assistance, land conservation programs through Gift-A-Bog, and hands-on support from volunteers to struggling small farmers.
How the Foundation Helps Small Farmers
Direct Grants to Small Farmers – Unlike Massachusetts politicians, the Foundation actually puts money in the hands of struggling cranberry farmers to help with operational costs, equipment, and land maintenance.
The Gift-A-Bog Initiative – The Foundation allows landowners to donate their abandoned bogs so they can be restored and kept in agricultural use instead of being sold to developers.
Volunteer Support – Small farmers can apply for assistance from volunteers and agricultural experts to help maintain their bogs.
Investment in Research & Sustainability – Instead of letting climate change and shifting market trends destroy the Massachusetts cranberry industry, the Foundation funds research into sustainable growing practices to help farmers adapt.
The Future of Massachusetts Cranberries: Will Politicians Wake Up?
Massachusetts politicians love to boast about their state’s rich cranberry heritage, but they’re doing absolutely nothing to protect it. If they continue ignoring small farmers while allowing Big Ag to take over, Massachusetts-grown cranberries will become a thing of the past.
The choice is clear: Either lawmakers step up before it’s too late, or small cranberry farmers will vanish entirely, taking Massachusetts’ centuries-old cranberry tradition with them.
Until they take action, Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation will continue fighting for the farmers who have been left behind. And if you care about keeping Massachusetts’ cranberry industry alive, now is the time to act. Donate today and help small cranberry farmers survive against the odds. If the government won’t protect our cranberry heritage, we have to do it ourselves.
Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation: Donate today to help preserve the future of New England’s culinary heritage.